Safety door lock



M ,W m M m MM w o A 1 m m M p 1955 E. M. TRAMMELL, JR

SAFETY DOOR LOCK Filed Dec. 10, 1962 FIG.|.

United States Patent 3,206,956 SAFETY DOOR LOCK Earl M. Trammell, Jr., Box 435, St. Louis 3, Mo. Filed Dec. 10, 1962, Ser. No. 243,351 Claims. (Cl. 70-181) This invention relates generally to an improvement in a safety door lock, and more particularly to an improvement in a device for selectively conditioning the latch mechanism of an automobile door.

The subject of this invention constitutes improvements over the subjects of other patents issued to this applicant, namely, U. S. Patent No. 2,694,917 issued November 23, 1954, U. S. Patent No. 2,708,845 issued May 24, 1955, U. S. Patent No. 2,735,288 issued February 21, 1956, U. S. Patent No. 2,735,289 issued February 21, 1956, U. S. Patent No. 2,939,307 issued June 7, 1960, U. S. Patent No. 2,939,308 issued June 7, 1960, U. S. Patent No. 2,955,858 issued October 11, 1960, and copending U. S. Patent No. 3,096,114 issued July 2, 1963.

These safety door locks are particularly useful on the doors of automobiles, and serves selectively to prevent a latch conditioning element located on the inside of such a door from being manually moved to a door-unlatching position, and hence prevent the door from opening while the vehicle is in motion. Thus it becomes impossible for small children occupying the automobile to open the door, and the hazard of a child falling from a moving vehicle is eliminated.

It is a major objective of the present invention to provide a protective arrangement for a reciprocative plunger utilized on an automobile door, the device selectively preventing the unintended, casual or otherwise unwanted actuation of the latch mechanism from door-latched position to door-unlatched position.

Other important advantages are realized in that the guarding device permits the usual or normal operation and use of the plunger when desired in conditioning the latch mechanism, and yet is capable of being selectively utilized when the specific need arises to avoid the hazards discussed previously.

An important objective is achieved by the provision of a lock member about the plunger, means interconnecting the plunger with the lock member for relative movement of the lock member to a plunger-locked position when the plunger is in the door-latched position to preclude plunger movement to the door-unlatched position, and means selectively holding the lock member in such plunger-locked position.

Another important object is realized by the structural arrangement of coacting abutments on the plunger and tubular lock member through which the plunger extends which .slidably engage to enable relative reciprocative plunger movement between the door-unlatched and doorlatched positions and which operatively disengage only when the plunger is in such door-latched position to enable relative rotative movement of the lock member be tween plunger-unlocked and plunger-locked positions.

Yet another important object is aiforded by the provision of an aperture in the lock member which is of a size to prevent digital access therethrough yet enable insertion of a thin instrument such a an ignition key for releasing and moving the lock member to the plunger-unlocked position.

Another important object is provided by a curvilinear spring that overlaps the lock member aperture and automatically engages a shoulder of the lock member when in the plunger-locked position to prevent rotative movement back to the plunger-unlocked position until the spring is depressed and released from the shoulder by an appropriate thin instrument inserted through the aperture.

3,206,955 Patented Sept. 21, 1965 "ice An important objective is achieved by the provision of a bearing element in the tubular lock member which positions the lock spring, provides a rotative bearing for the lock member, and cooperates with the plunger to enable plunger reciprocation yet prevent relative rotation.

Still another important object is realized by the provision of internal stop shoulders on the lock member that coact with the flexible spring end to determine the plunger-unlocked and plunger-locked positions, and which coact with the anchored spring end to preclude the lock member aperture from passing the flexible spring end upon movement of the lock member to the plungerlocked position.

An important object is afforded by the structural arrangement of the component parts which enables the same device to be utilized on either a left or right hand rear door merely by turning over the internal spring.

Another important objective is to provide a safety door lock that is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture and assemble, high-1y efficient in operation, and which can be easily installed and operated by any one with only a minimum of instruction.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the safety door lock assembled on the left hand rear door of an automobile, the plunger being raised to the door-unlatched position;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating the plunger lowered to the door-latched position and the lock member rotated to the plungerlocked position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view showing diagrammatically the movement of the lock member between the plungerlocked and plunger-unlocked positions;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the safety door lock shown in FIG. 1, as seen along a longitudinal vertical plane;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view as seen along line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view .as seen along line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the lock shown in FIG. 2 as seen along a longitudinal vertical plane;-

'FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view as seen along line 88 of FIG. 7, and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the internal bearing element.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawings, it will be noted that the safety door look is mounted on the left hand rear door of an automobile. Of course, this safety door lock can be advantageously utilized on the right hand rear door with equal facility merely upon a simple repositioning of one component part, as will be explained in detail subsequently.

The automobile door is of conventional construction including a window sill frame 10 through which the glass pane 11 slidably extends. The mechanism for conditioning the door latch includes a plunger rod 12 extending upwardly through a hole 13 formed in the window frame 10, the rod 12 being provided with threads 14 on its upper end as is best seen in FIG. 4.

Threadedly attached to the rod 12 is a plunger 15 that is fitted also within the window frame hole 13. The plunger 15 is fixed in position on rod 12 by a set screw 16. The plunger 15 is provided with an enlarged head 17 that can be easily gripped for manual reciprocative movement. For reasons which will later appear, the

plunger 15 is provided with a pair of laterallyv opposed longitudinal ribs 20 that terminate short of the enlarged plunger head 17 to provide a space therebetween.

As-is usual,-the-plunger 15 can be raised to the doorunlatched position illustrated in FIG. 1, or depressed to the door-latched position illustrated in FIG. 2.

A bearing element generally indicated at 21 is perhaps best shown in FIG. 9. This bearing element 21 includes a circular base 22 having an opening 23 therethrough. The opening 23 includes a pair of laterally opposed recesses 24 that receive the longitudinal ribs 20 of plunger 15, the ribs 20 and coacting recesses 24 permitting relative reciprocative movement of the plunger through the opening 23 yet precluding any relative rotation.

Extending below the base 22 is an arcuate wall 25 that is adapted to fit within the window frame hole 13 and forms a bearing surface for the plunger 15. A right angle tab 26 is provided on the bottom of arcuate wall 25. When installed, the wall 25 and tab 26 extend through the frame hole 13, the tab 26 fitting beneath the frame 10.

Formed integral with and extending above the base 22 is an arcuate wall 27 that is spaced slightly from the plunger 15. A slot 30 is provided in the wall 27 intermediate of its ends. The purpose of slot 30 will be later described in detail.

A resilient washer 31 is disposed about the arcuate wall 25 and located between the window frame 10 and the base 22 when the bearing element 21 is installed. The washer 31 holds the bearing element 21 in an upright position. A small bore 32 is formed radially through the washer 31 to permit the insertion of a small appropriate tool such as a hex-rod for engagement with the set screw 16 in order to mount the plunger 15 to rod 12.

Mounted about the plunger 15 and the bearing element 21 is a tubular lock member referred to at 33 having a top wall 34 and a circular peripheral depending side wall 35. The tubular lock member 33 includes an internal surface 36 that slidably bears on the outer surface of the arcuate wall 27 of the bearing element 21, thereby mounting the lock member 33 for rotative movement relative to the bearing element 21 and relative to the plunger 15.

The top wall 34 of lock member 33 is provided with an opening 37 through which the plunger 15 extends. The opening 37 is provided with a pair of opposed lateral recesses 40 that receive the longitudinal plunger ribs 20. The plunger ribs 20 and the cooperating recesses 40 permit reciprocation of the plunger 15- relative to the lock member 33 yet preclude relative rotation during such reciprocative movement. However, it will be noted that the thickness of the top wall 34 is slightly smaller than the space between the upper ends of plunger ribs 20 and the plunger head 17 so that the ribs 20 clear the recesses 40 and the top wall 34 when the plunger 15 i depressed to the door-latched position illustrated in FIG. 2 and 7. In this position, the lock member 33 can be rotated about the plunger 15.

A retaining ring 41 is disposed below the peripheral margin of bearing element base 22 and the lower periphery of the side wall 35 of the lock member 33. In assembly, the edge of the side wall 35 is rolled over the retaining ring 41.

A small narrow aperture 42 is provided in the side wall 35 of the lock member 33, the aperture 42 communicating with the interior of the tubular lock member 33. The aperture 42 is of a size to preclude digital access therethrough yet permit the insertion of a thin instrument such as an automobile ignition key. This instrument will coact with other component parts of the door lock assembly, as will later appear, to release the lock member 33 and turn the lock member 33 to a plunger-unlocked position in which the plunger 15 can be reciprocatively moved to condition the latch mechanism.

The interior of tubular lock member 33 is shaped to provide a pair of first shoulders 43 and 44 spaced equidistantly on opposite sides of yet closely adjacent to the aperture 42. A pair of second shoulders 45 and 46 are disposed equidistantly on opposite sides of the aperture 42 yet spaced further than the first shoulders 43-44. It will be noted that the first shoulder 43 and second shoulder 45 are interconnected by a curved camming surface 47, while the first shoulder 44 and second shoulder 46 are interconnected by a curved camming surface 50.

A pair of third shoulders 51 and 52 are disposed equidistantly on opposite sides of the slot 30' when the lock member 33 is disposed in its plunger-unlocked position illustrated in FIG. 5 in which the slot 30 is located diametrically opposite the aperture 42.

The purpose of these shoulders 43-44, 45-46 and 51-52 will be now described.

An arcuate leaf spring 53 has one end 54 inserted into slot 30 and anchored to the wall 27 of bearing element 21. The spring 53 has its other, flexible end 55 engageable with the internal surface of side wall 35. The arcuate spring 53 is disposed, in the embodiment shown, between the plunger 15 and the wall 27 of bearing element 21, the spring overlapping the aperture 42..

The flexible spring end 55 engages the second shoulder 45 to determine the plunger unlocked position of lock member 33 in which the recesses 40 of such lock member 33 are aligned with the plunger ribs 20 to permit the plunger 15 to be reciprocated selectively either to the raised door-unlatched position or to the depressed door-latched position. When the plunger 15 is located in the depressed door-latched position, a little effort is required to rotate the lock member 33 in a counterclockwise direction from the position illustrated in FIG. 5 to the position illustrated in FIG. 8 because the camming surface 47 gradually decreases in diameter and thereby causes an increased spring pressure to develop.

When the lock member is intentionally turned in a counterclockwise direction, the flexible spring end 55 rides along the camming surface 47 and snaps into the recess forming the first shoulder 43, the abutment of shoulder 43 with the flexible spring end 55 preventing any unintended return of the lock member 33 to the plunger-unlocked position. With the lock member 33 in the plungerlocked position illustrated in FIG. 8, the plunger ribs 20 are misaligned with the recesses 40 so as to prevent the plunger 15 from being raised.

It will be noted that when the flexible spring end 55 engages the first shoulder 43, the anchored spring end 54 engages the third shoulder 51 to preclude further rotation of the lock member in a counterclockwise direction and hence prevent the aperture 42 from passing by the overlapping spring end 55.

To release the lock member 33, a thin instrument is inserted through the aperture 42 into engagement with the flexible spring end 55 to depress the spring sufliciently to disengage the spring end 55 from the first shoulder 43. While holding the spring end 55 depressed, the instrument is turned in a rotative translatory movement to rotate the lock member 33 in a clockwise direction from the plunger-locked position of FIG. 8 to the plunger-unlocked position of FIG. ,5. Again, it will be noted that the flexible spring end 55 reengages the second shoulder 45 to determine the plunger-unlocked position in which the recesses 40 are aligned with the plunger ribs 20.

As explained previously, the embodiment shown is for use on a left hand rear automobile door. To adapt the same component parts for use on a right hand rear door, the spring 53 is turned over with the spring end 54 anchored in slot 30 but with the flexible spring end 55 cooperating with the first shoulder 44, and second shoulder 46 in exactly the same manner as has been previously described with respect to first shoulder 43 and second shoulder 45 respectively. Also, the anchored spring end 54 engages and cooperates with the third shoulder 52 precisely as has been described with respect to the third shoulder 51 previously. It is this symmetrical arrangement of the shoulders that permits this dual function merely by turning over the spring 53.

To assemble the safety door lock, the washer 31 is located about the arcuate side wall 25, and the lock member 33 together with its internal parts is placed on the window frame with the tab 26 and arcuate side wall disposed in the frame hole 13. The lock member 33 is turned so as to be located in its plunger-unlocked position in which the flexible spring end 55 engages the second shoulder 45, .and the unit is turned so that the aperture 42 faces directly inward of the automobile at a right angle to the door as is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5. The plunger rod 12 extends upwardly into the lock member 33 and through the opening 23 in the bearing element base 22.

The plunger 15 is fitted over the rod 12 and moved downwardly through the opening 37 in the top wall 34 of lock element 33 and through the opening 23 of the bearing element base 22. The plunger 15 is completely depressed until the rod 12 and plunger 15 are located in the door-latched position. When so located, the set screw 16 is aligned with the washer bore 32 and a suitable tool is inserted to lock the set screw 16 onto the plunger rod 12. Thus it is seen that the plunger 15 is secured to rod 12 with its longitudinal ribs 20 located substantially parallel to the glass pane 11.

The bearing element 21 is secured to the window frame 10 and cannot be rotated relative to plunger 15 because of the keyed connection of ribs 20 with the recesses 24.

It is thought that the operation of the safety door lock has become fully apparent from the foregoing detailed description of parts, but for completeness of disclosure such operation will be briefly described. It will be assumed that the plunger 15 is raised to its door-unlatched position and that the lock member 33 is disposed in its plunger-unlocked position as is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5.

Under normal usage of the latch conditioning plunger 15, the plunger 15 can be depressed or raised selectively to latch or unlatch the door from the inside. However, if it is desired to utilize the safety features afforded by the present safety door lock, the plunger 15 is depressed from the door-unlatched position of FIG. 1 to the depressed door-latched position of FIG. 2. Then the lock member 33 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction from the position of FIG. 5 to the position of FIG. 8. Automatically, the flexible spring end 55 will snap into engagement with the first shoulder 43 and thereby preclude unintentional or casual turning of the lock member 33 back to its plunger-unlocked position. In its plunger-locked position of FIG. 8, the anchored spring end 54 engages the shoulder 51 to prevent movement of the flexible spring end 55 past the aperture 42.

In this position the latch member 33 is disposed so that the aperture 42 faces forwardly toward the drivers seat as is indicated in FIG. 2, thereby allowing easier access to the aperture 42 by the driver when it is desired to recondition the safety door lock for normal plunger actuation.

To release the plunger 15, a suitable thin instrument such as an automobile ignition key is inserted through the aperture 42 and urged against the spring end 55 so as to depress the spring 53 and disengage the spring end 55 from the first shoulder 43. The key is then moved with a translatory angular movement to turn the lock member 33 in a clockwise direction from the plunger-locked position of FIG. 8 to the plunger-unlocked position of FIG. 5. The flexible spring end 55 will re-engage the second shoulder 45 to determine this plunger-unlocked position in which the plunger ribs 20 are aligned with the recesses 24 and 40. The plunger 15 can now be raised to the door-unlatched position of FIG. 1 and subsequently depressed if desired to the door-latched position in which the safety door lock unit can be again selectively utilized if desired.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to a single preferred embodiment, such detail is to be understood in an instructive, rather than in any restrictive sense, many variants being possible within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device for conditioning the latch mechanism of a door:

(a) a plunger operatively connected to the latch mechanism and mounted for movement between a doorunlatched position and a door-latched position,

(b) a tubular lock member through which the plunger extends, the lock member being outside of the plunger and accessible for digital actuation between plungerlocked and plunger-unlocked positions,

(c) the plunger and lock member being provided with coacting abutments that slidably engage to enable relative plunger movement between the door-unlatched and the door-latched positions and which disengage only when the plunger is in the doorlatched position to enable relative lock member movement between plunger-locked and plunger-unlocked positions,

((1) means within the lock member releasably and automatically holding the lock member in the plungerlocked position, and

(e) the lock member being provided with an aperture of a size to preclude digital access therethrough yet enable insertion of a thin instrument to actuate the last said means to release the lock member for movement to the plunger-unlocked position.

2. In a device for conditioning the latch mechanism of a door:

(a) a plunger operatively connected to said latch mechanism and mounted for movement between a doorunlatched position and a door-latched position,

(b) a tubular lock member through which the plunger extends,

(c) the plunger and lock member being provided with coacting abutments that slidably engage to enable relative plunger movement between the door-unlatched and door-latched positions, and which disengage only when the plunger is in said door-latched position to enable relative lock member movement between plunger-locked and plunger-unlocked positions,

(d) the lock member being provided with an aperture of a size to preclude digital access therethrough yet enable insertion of a thin instrument,

(e) a spring in said lock member automatically engaging a shoulder of said lock member when in the plunger-locked position to preclude movement back to the plunger-unlocked position, said spring overlapping said aperture, the instrument releasably depressing the spring to disengage the spring from said shoulder and moving the lock member to the plungerunlocked position.

3. In a device for conditioning the latch mechanism of a door:

(a) a plunger operatively connected to said latch mechanism and mounted for movement between a doorunlatched position and a door-latched position,

(b) a tubular lock member through which the plunger extends,

(c) the plunger and lock member being provided with coacting abutments that slidably engage relative reciprocative plunger movement between the door-unlatched and door-latched positions and which disengage only when the plunger is in said door-latched position to enable relative rotative movement of the lock member between plunger-locked and plunger unlocked positions,

((1) means releasably and automatically holding said lock member in said plunger-locked position, and

(e) a bearing element about said plunger and inside of said lock member, said bearing element including an abutment that slidably engages the plunger abutment during reciprocative plunger movement and precludes relative rotation, and including an arcuate wall on which the lock member turns during its movement.

4. In a device for conditioning the latch mechanism of a door:

(a) a plunger operatively connected to said latch mechanism and mounted for movement between a doorunlatched position and a door-latched position,

(b) a tubular lock member through which the plunger extends,

(c) the plunger and lock member being provided with coacting abutments that slidably engage to enable relative plunger movement between the door-unlatched and door-latched positions, and which disengage only when the plunger is in said door-latched position to enable relative rotative movement of the lock member between plunger-locked and plungerunlocked positions.

((1) a bearing element about said plunger and inside of said lock member, said bearing element including an abutment that slidably engages the plunger abutment during plunger movement and precludes relative rotation, and including an arcuate wall on which the lock member turns during its movement,

(e) the lock member being provided with an aperture of a size to preclude .digital access therethrough yet enable insertion of a thin instrument, and

(f) a spring having one end anchored to said bearing element and having the other end urged against said locked member,

(g) said lock member being provided with an internal shoulder, the said other spring end automatically engaging said lock shoulder when the lock member is in the plunger-locked position to preclude movement back to the plunger-unlocked position,

(h) said spring overlapping said aperture, the instrument depressing the spring to disengage the' said other spring end from said shoulder and moving the lock member to the plunger-unlocked position.

5. In a device for conditioning the latch mechanism of a door:

(a), a plunger operatively connected to said latch mechanism and mounted for reciprocative movement between a door-unlatched position and a doorlatched position,

(b) a tubular lock member through which the plunger extends,

(c) the plunger and lock member being provided with coacting abutments that slidably engage to enable relative reciprocative plunger movement between the door-unlatched and door-latched positions and which disengage only when the plunger is in said doorlatched position to enable relative rotative movement of the lock member between plunger-locked and plunger-unlocked positions,

(d) means selectively and automatically holding said lock member in said plunger-locked position, and (e) a bearing element in said lock member including a base through which the plunger slidably extends, (f) an abutment n the base that engages the plunger to preclude relative rotation during plunger movement, and

(g) an arcuate wall extending from one side of the base about said plunger on which the lock member turns.

6. The combination and arrangement of elements as recited above in claim 5, but further characterized in that the said arcuate wall of said bearing element extends only partially about said plunger, and said spring is disposed internally of and engaging said arcuate wall, one

end of said spring being anchored to said arcuate wall,

8 the other" end of said spring being urged against said lock-member. I

7. -In a device for conditioning a latch mechanism of a door:

(a) a plunger operatively connected to said latch mechanism and mounted for movement between a door-unlatched position and a door-latched position,

(b) a tubular lock member through which the plunger extends,

(c) the plunger and lock member being provided with coacting abutments that slidably engage to enable relative reciprocative plunger movement between the door-unlatched and door-latched positions and which disengage ,only when the plunger is in said doorlatched position to enable relative rotative lock member movement between plunger-locked and plungerunlocked positions,

(d) the lock member being provided with an aperture of a size to preclude digital access therethrough yet enable insertion of a thin instrument,

(e) said lock member including a first shoulder immediately adjacent said aperture and a second shoulder spaced from said first shoulder on the same side of said aperture,

(f) a bearing element about said plunger and inside of said lock member, said bearing element including an abutment that slidably engages the plunger abutment during reciprocative plunger movement and precludes relative rotation, and including an arcuate wall about which the lock member turns during its rotative movement,

(g) a spring having one end anchored to said bearing element, the other end overlapping said aperture and engaging said second shoulder to determine the plunger-unlocked position of said lock member and selectively engaging the first shoulder to determine the plunger-locked position and preclude unintentional return to the plunger-unlocked position,

(h) the thin instrument depressing the said other spring end to disengage the spring end from said first shoulder and moving the lock member selectively to the plunger-unlocked position.

8. The combination and arrangement of elements as recited above in claim 7, but further characterized by the provision of a third shoulder on the lock member engageable with the anchored spring end to preclude rotative movement of the lock member aperture, past the said other spring end upon movement of the lock member to the plunger-locked position.

9. 'In a device for conditioning the latch mechanism of a door:

(a) a plunger operatively connected to said latch mechanism and mounted for movement between a door-unlatched position and a door-latched position,

(b) a tubular lock member through which the plunger extends,

(c) the plunger and lock member being provided with I coacting abutments that slidably engage to enable relative plunger movement between the door-unlatched and door-latched positions and which disengage only when the plunger is in said door-latched position to enable relative lock member movement between plunger-locked and plunger-unlocked positions,

((1) the lock member being provided with an aperture of a side to preclude digital access therethrough yet enable insertion of a thin instrument,

1(6) the lock member being provided with a pair of first shoulders disposed equidistantly on opposite sides of said aperture,

(f) an arcuate spring having one end anchored diametrically opposite said aperture when the lock member is in the plunger-unlocked position, the other spring end engaging one of said first shoulders when I the lock member is in the plunger-locked position to preclude unintentional movement back to the plunger-unlocked position, the spring overlapping said aperture,

(g) the instrument depressing the said other spring end to disengage the spring from said first shoulder to permit movement of the lock member to the plunger-unlocked position,

(h) the said other spring end engaging the other said first shoulder when the spring is turned over for movement of the lock member in the opposite direction to the plunger-locked position.

10. The combination and arrangement of elements as recited above in claim 9, but further characterized in that the said lock member is provided with a pair of second shoulders disposed equidistantly on opposite sides of said aperture yet spaced further than said first shoulders, the said other spring end engaging one of said second shoulders when the lock member is in the plungerunlocked position to preclude movement of the lock member past said position, the said other spring end engaging the other said second shoulder when the spring is turned over for movement of the lock member in the opposite direction to the plunger-locked position.

11. The combination and arrangement of elements as recited above in claim 9, but further characterized in that the lock member is provided with a pair of second shoulders disposed equidistantly on opposite sides of said anchored spring end, said anchored spring end engaging one of said second shoulders when the lock member is in the plunger-locked position to preclude rotative movement of the lock member aperture past the said other spring end upon movement to the plunger-locked position, the anchored spring end engaging the other said second shoulder when the spring is turned over for movement of the lock member in the opposite direction to the plunger-locked position.

12. The combination and arrangement of elements as recited above in claim 9, but further characterized in that the lock member is provided with a pair of second shoulders disposed equidistantly on opposite sides of said aperture yet spaced further than first shoulders, the said other spring end engaging one of said second shoulders when the lock member is in the plunger-unlocked position to preclude rotative movement of the lock member past said position, the said other spring end engaging the other said second shoulder when the spring is turned over for movement of the lock member in the opposite direction to the plunger-lock position, and in that the lock member is provided with a pair of third shoulders disposed equidistantly on opposite sides of said anchored spring end, said anchored spring end engaging one of said third shoulders when the lock member is in the plungerlocked position to preclude rotative movement of the lock member aperture past the said other spring end upon movement to the plunger-locked position, the anchored spring end engaging the other said third shoulder when the spring is turned over for movement of the lock member in the opposite direction to the plunger-locked position.

13. The combination and arrangement of elements as recited above in claim 12, but further characterized by the provision of a bearing element about said plunger and inside of said lock member, said bearing element including an abutment that slidably engages the plunger abutment during plunger movement and precludes relative rotation, and including an arcuate wall on which the lock member turns during its movement.

14. The combination and arrangement of elements as recited above in claim 12, but further characterized by the provision of a bearing element in said lock member including a base through which the plunger slidably extends, an abutment on the base that engages the plunger to preclude relative rotation during plunger movement, and an arcuate wall extending from one side of the base about said plunger on which the lock member turns.

15. In a device for conditioning the latch mechanism of a door:

(a) a plunger operatively connected to said latch member :and mounted for reciprocative movement between a door-unlatched position and a door-latched position,

(b) a tubular lock member through which the plunger extends,

(c) the plunger being provided with at least one longitudinal rib, the lock member being provided with a recess receiving said rib to enable relative reciprocative plunger movement between the door-unlatched and door-latched positions, said plunger rib clearing said recess and disengaging from said lock member only when the plunger is in said door-latched position to enable relative rotative movement of said lock member between plunger-lock and plungerunlocked positions,

(d) the lock member being provided with an aperture of a size to preclude digital access therethrough, yet enable insertion of a thin instrument,

(e) a bearing element in said lock member including a base through which the plunger slidably extends, said base being provided with a recess receiving said plunger rib to permit relative reciprocative movement of the plunger yet preclude relative rotation, and including an arcuate wall extending from one side of the base about said plunger on which the lock member turns,

(f) an arcuate spring having one end anchored to said arcuate wall diametrically opposite said aperture when the lock member is in the plunger-unlocked position, said arcuate spring bearing on the inside of said arcuate wall,

(g) a pair of first shoulders disposed equidistantly on opposite sides of said aperture,

(h) a pair of second shoulders spaced equidistantly on opposite sides of said aperture yet spaced further than said first shoulders,

(i) the other spring end engaging one of said first shoulders when the lock member is in the plungerlocked position to preclude unintentional movement back to the plunger-unlocked position, and the other spring end engaging one of said second shoulders when the lock member is in the plunger-unlocked position to preclude movement of the lock member past said position,

(j) the said other spring end engaging the other said first and second shoulders when the spring is turned over for movement of the lock member in the opposite directions respectively to the plunger-lock position and to the plunger-unlocked position, and

(k) a pair of third shoulders disposed equidistantly on opposite sides of said anchored spring end, said anchored spring end engaging one of said third shoulders when the lock member is in the plungerlocked position to preclude rotative movement of the lock member aperture past the said other spring end upon movement to the plunger-locked position,

(1) the anchored spring end engaging the other said third shoulder when the spring is turned over to preclude rotative movement of the lock member aperture past the said other spring end upon movement of the lock member in the opposite direction to the plunger-locked position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,186,378 6/16 Christensen et a1. 70-181 X 2,676,479 4/54 Bethune 70181 2,855,773 10/58 Evans 70--181 M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

ALBERT H. KAMPE, Examiner. 

1. IN A DEVICE FOR CONDITIONING THE LATCH MECHANISM OF A DOOR; (A) A PLUNGER OPRATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE LATCH MECHANISM AND MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A DOORUNLATCHED POSITION AND A DOOR-LATCHED POSITION, (B) A TUBULAR LOCK MEMBER THROUGH WHICH THE PLUNGE EXTENDS, THE LOCK MEMBER BEING OUTSIDE OF THE PLUNGER AND ACCESSIBLE FOR DIGITAL ACTUATION BETWEEN PLUNGERLOCKED AND PLUNGER-UNLOCKED POSITIONS, (C) THE PLUNGER AND LOCK MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH COACTING ABUTMENTS THAT SLIDABLY ENGAGE TO ENABLE RELATIVE PLUNGER MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE DOOR-UNLATCHED AND THE DOOR-LATCHED POSITIONS AND WHICH DISENGAGE ONLY WHEN THE PLUNGER IS IN THE DOORLATCHED POSITION TO ENABLES RELATIVE LOCK MEMBER MOVEMENT BETWEEN PLUNGER-LOCKED AND PLUNGER-UNLOCKED POSITIONS, (D) MEANS WITHIN THE LOCK MEMBER RELEASABLY AND AUTOMATICALLY HOLDING THE LOCK MEMBER IN THE PLUNGERLOCKED POSITION, AND (E) THE LOCK MEMBER BEING PROVIDIED WITH AN APERTURE OF A SIZE TO PRECLUDE DIGITAL ACCESS THERETHROUGH YET ENABLE INSERTION OF A THIN INSTRUMENT TO ACTUATE THE LAST SAID MEANS TO RELEASE THE LOCK MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT TO THE PLUNGER-UNLOCKED POSITION. 